Bendigo workshop to help parents learn cyber safety and social media

Parents need to get more Facebook friendly according to central Victorian cyber safety expert Janita Docherty.

Ms Docherty has just returned from the US where she was a trainer at an international law enforcement social media conference.

The educator, mother and Victoria Police officer is running a special workshop for parents in Bendigo and Maryborough next month.

Ms Docherty said her workshop mainly covered Facebook, her specialist area, but also touched on things like cyber reputation management. She said it was important for parents to be on Facebook.

“Parents with teenagers online can learn more about Facebook and how it works, if they are users themselves,” she said.

“It helps you understand the platform and what they are exposed to and it helps you keep an eye on them.

“Parents do need to know what’s going on in the online world.

“A lot of parents think that because their child is on the net they know how to work it and how to keep safe but that is not always the case.” Ms Docherty has been researching the online world since 2009.

She said parents were most concerned about cyber bullying, but she hoped to allay that fear.

“The internet isn’t as dangerous as they fear and a little bit of knowledge goes a long way,” she said.

Facebook Secrets for Parents will be held on November 14 at the Maryborough Highland Society and on November 17 at the Julie-Anna Motel, from 7pm to 9pm. Tickets to the workshops are $30 and can be purchased at www.eventbrite.com.au/event/3677074228